The Mother Tongue

How often do we find a child growing up without learning his/her mother tongue. Its got to do with the parents often speaking in a language akin to the mother tongue. This is more pronounced when children are raised in countries away from home or else in towns which has a different native language.

This is quite pronounced in Indian families. With most young Indian parents seeking opportunities away fromt their roots, the children usually grow up with English has the spoken language at home as well. The mother tongue is not just about language. Its also linked deeply with the culture of the place where you belong.

The best way to ensure that child picks up the mother-tongue is to ensure its spoken at home in the formative years. Once its spoken, you dont need an effort to teach the language. The positive is that the child will not feel out of place when he/she visits the home town annually. They will be able to relate with their relatives back home and at the same time understand their roots better.

The merits of knowing the mother tongue will be realised by the child later as an adult when he is able to connect in the language of his/her people unlike so many of us who are at loss when visiting their home towns.